COUNSEL FROM A CAVE

Everyone has dark moments. Most of us go through dark times that seem to last forever, trapped by circumstances and self – sometimes feeling that there isn’t even a glimmer of hope.

Does this happen to Christians? Yes, of course it does. Does it indicate a lack of spiritual maturity or a personal defect? Not normally. We can see from the Bible that it does indicate that the suffering provided a difficult learning or growing experience. In David’s cave at Adullam the discontented and distressed to found REFUGE. In Elijah’s cave his disillusionment found REFRESHMENT. At Lazarus’ cave (tomb) the disbelieving crowd found one RADICALLY ALIVE! Jesus’ cave (suffering, death, tomb) was for the discouraged to find RESURRECTED LIFE!

It is widely believed that David wrote Psalm 57 during his time at the cave at Adullam. For some perspective, this cave is just 12 miles southwest of Bethlehem and only 3 miles across the valley of Elah from where David killed Goliath. At this time, Saul was pursuing David to take his life. What a picture of each of us! Satan, like Saul, desires to steal, kill, and destroy. Like David, all who come to Christ can find REFUGE for their soul.

– Jesus: Our Restorer of All that Is Broken

YOUR BROKENNESS – YOUR PATHWAY TO BLESSING

(Nehemiah 8)

In Israel’s history, we see how God used wicked foreign powers like the Assyrians and the Babylonians to bring judgment on the Jewish nation. After years of exile, they were a broken nation in desperate need of restoration. Their only hope for resuscitation, restoration, and revival was the “One Who Restores All the Broken Things” – JESUS!

The book of Nehemiah was written about 440 BC during the reign of the Persian king, Artaxerxes. In scripture, we see that God strategically placed Nehemiah, Ezra, and Esther in this critical juncture in Jewish history.

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes Longimanus, and was held in high esteem by the king. In the ancient Persian court, a cupbearer was an officer of high rank who served the wine at the king’s table. A person holding this position was one who was regarded as thoroughly trustworthy. Often because of the nature of his position, the cup bearer developed a confidential and close relationship with the king which gave him a position of great influence. Nehemiah’s financial ability would indicate that the office was also a lucrative one.

In addition to his duties as cupbearer, Nehemiah also had major governing responsibilities. So, it makes sense to assume that Nehemiah was considered a leader in Jerusalem, even though he lived far away in exile.

We know how this story begins. Beloved Jerusalem, the Holy City, was a rockpile, completely ruined – the temple, the wall, the gates had been destroyed. Even worse, God’s people were exiled across the known world – all because of their refusal to completely obey God. As a nation, they appeared broken beyond repair.

However, in response to years of exile, their hearts were convicted, broken, and softened towards God. Their prayers of repentance reached the Father’s heart … read (Ezra 9:6-7):

“And I said: ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher thanourheads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day wehave beenvery guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings,andour priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, asit isthis day.”

After repentance was corporately expressed, the Lord moved and motivated both Nehemiah and Ezra to lead the people to respond. They led the people to (1) study God’s Word, (2) to pray, (3) to obey God’s laws, (4) to work hard, (5) to be faithful, and (6) to trust in the Lord, their Faithful Restorer.

Brokenness is often the only pathway to God’s blessing. Restoration begins with brokenness and repentance. It must then be followed by seeking God, obedience, faithfulness, and trust. The One Who Restores All Broken Things steps in and does what no one else can do. He makes a way where there is no way. What is impossible with man, God can and will do.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

Today our only hope for resuscitation, restoration, and revival is still the “One Who Restores All the Broken Things” – JESUS!

Yet, often we remain in bondage and exile. We must choose to turn to God in our brokenness with repentance, seeking Him, obeying Him, and trusting in Him to do what He says He will do in our behalf. He waits and longs to be gracious to us, to restore us.

What were the six things Nehemiah and Ezra encouraged the people to do after they repented?

If you are experiencing bondage or feel broken, how do you need to respond?

– Jesus: Our Divine Advocate (Part 3)

JESUS ADVOCATES AND INTERVENES FOR US… at just the RIGHT TIME with just the RIGHT PERSON, for just the RIGHT PURPOSE.

(Esther 4)

The entire theme of the Bible is Jesus! In the book of Esther, we see Jesus as our advocate and intercessor. God is not a God of DEAD-ENDS, He is the God of crossroads and choices. God often does His greatest work in our deepest hurt. God will make a way when there seems to be no way.

In the book of Esther, as the Jews faced annihilation at the decree of the king, God did just this! In doing so, He went totally contrary to the culture of the day to accomplish His purpose. The pagan culture of Persia LOATHED JEWS and ABUSED WOMEN (and still does…). Yet, who does the Father put at the tip of the spear for “such a time as this?” A Jewish woman – beautiful, sweet, patient, strong Esther and her wise, godly uncle Mordecai!

God will intervene when there seems to be no way out, and God will intervene with just the right person, for just the right purpose, at just the right time. When we are at a dead-end or an impossible place in life, our Father always has the perfect person, perfectly positioned to perform His perfect plan in His perfect timing.

We may panic or worry ourselves sick, but God is in control – always. There is never any panic in heaven; only plans! As Adrian Rogers has said, “The Trinity never meets in emergency session.” At the impossible places of our lives, Jesus is our advocate and He will intervene.

Our responsibility is to focus on Him, trust Him, and obey Him. Sounds simple on paper! But, in real life situations, this is not the natural response of our human nature. It is so easy to focus on our fear and what we think should be done. Often impossible situations are God’s nudge to turn from ourselves to focus on Him, realizing we cannot resolve the situation in our own strength and must depend on Him to intervene as we go forward in obedience to His commands.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

In those dark, impossible places where our tendency is to worry, panic, or run, it is time to be still and know that God is God. He never panics. He has a plan. He loves you and is your heavenly advocate and will intervene for you. Remember: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’” says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV).

– Jesus: Our Divine Advocate (Part 2)

JESUS ADVOCATES AND INTERVENES FOR US AT OUR DEAD ENDS

(Esther 4)

The entire theme of the Bible is Jesus! In the book of Esther, we see Jesus as our advocate and intercessor.

God Made a Way

God is not a God of DEAD-ENDS. He is the God of crossroads and choices. God often does His greatest work in our deepest hurt. God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

On the Jews’ darkest day, GOD MADE A WAY. Our Advocate loves to work in the dark. Those were dark days indeed for the Jews facing annihilation. And the Jewish brethren continue to face incredible challenges. Haman’s intentions resonated with those of Hitler and Russia during World War II. The struggle continues for Israel today, and God continues to intervene on their behalf.

God Will Make a Way for You

We all encounter dead ends, impossible places in life, and dark times. Hurt is inevitable. Yet, we have One who sticks closer than a brother, advocating and intervening on our behalf.

Mordecai and Esther both responded and served as advocates for their people. They are a picture of what Jesus does for us. We see that the Jewish people did not sit by passively. What did they do? They fasted and prayed. Then, on the day set for their annihilation, they were prepared to defend themselves according to the decree of the king.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

We must respond in a similar manner when we face an impossible place and dark times. We must pray and seek God. This must be our priority. Then we are to respond as the Lord guides us in each situation. Sometimes we are just to stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord on our behalf. Sometimes we are to actively go forward and address the situation as God intervenes on our behalf.

– Jesus: Our Divine Advocate (Part 1)

THE POWER OF ONE

(Esther)

The entire theme of the Bible is Jesus! In the book of Esther, we see Jesus as our advocate and intercessor.

The Power of One
Throughout history God uses “the power of one” person over and over to illustrate for all, the might and enormity of His power in one solitary life. Esther is such a person.

Edward Everett Hale recognized the power of one when he wrote, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.”

We can see the pivotal effect one vote made in the following decisions:

In 1654, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England

In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed

In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German

In 1839, one vote elected Marcus Morton governor of Massachusetts

In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union

In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment

In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic

In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the United States Presidency

In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler control over the Nazi Party

In 1941, one vote saved the Selective Service System just 12 weeks before Pearl Harbor!

Who Was Esther?
Esther was a beautiful Jewish girl living in exile in Persia. She was orphaned as a child and adopted by her uncle Mordecai. The king hand-selected Esther from an empire-wide search for a queen-in-waiting to replace the former queen. In brief, Esther won the “Miss Persia” beauty contest and went through a one-year makeover treatment before becoming the queen.

During the time Esther was queen, a decree was issued to exterminate all the Jews in the empire. Her uncle Mordecai, a government official, asked Esther to appeal to King Xerxes on behalf of her people. In approaching the king, Esther would be putting her life on the line. To approach the king uninvited was automatic death according to Persian law, unless the king chose to spare the person who approached him.

Mordecai’s encouragement to Esther was “…who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)?

In God’s SOVEREIGNTY, in the middle of hopeless times – God saw fit to place Esther as QUEEN of Persia. He took her from obscurity to royalty. True to God’s appointment, Esther obeyed God, exerted influence, and saved her people from annihilation. Her response: ‘IF I PERISH, I PERISH.”“IF I DIE, I DIE.”BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

While God’s name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, nor is Esther’s early training mentioned, God’s hand is evident in Esther’s life. While most of us tend to think of being a queen as something wonderful, reality was quite the opposite. For queens, during that time period, it was essentially a life of slavery in a luxurious setting. Esther most likely had no choice in the matter of being selected for the “beauty pageant.” She could not leave the palace or even speak with her uncle whenever she wished. She could not even approach the king at will. She was basically trapped in a royal prison.

What do you think made Esther so strong – strong enough to handle her situation with grace and beauty, as well as risking her life for her people? How can you apply that to your situation this week?

– Jesus: Our Restorer of All That Is Broken (Part 4)

THRIVING IN GOD’S PROMISES

(Nehemiah)

Jesus, our restorer of all that is broken, wants us to thrive. He wants us to thrive in His Word, to thrive in His presence, to thrive in His peace and joy, and to thrive in His promises. Earlier we saw that God will restore our broken things and the ruins in our lives if we follow Him. To follow Him we must take the first steps: (1st) Read God’s Word, (2nd) Obey God’s Word, and (3rd) Pray and worship the Lord.

“God isn’t calling you to make great promises to Him. He is calling you to trust His great promises to you” (Kevin Dibbley)

Friends, the rubble and ruins that lie in front of you have been assigned specifically to you to show a watching world that Jesus, the Restorer of all broken things, is using you to be a wall builder and a warrior …

What are some of the promises seen in Nehemiah that can bless us, restore us, rebuild us, renew us?

God is always withme … I willnotfear.

God is always incontrol … I willnotdoubt.

God is always good … I willnotdespair.

God is always watching … I willnotfalter.

God is always victorious … I willnotfail.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

Take some time to reflect on areas in your life or touching your life that need God’s restoration and rebuilding. Do any of the promises above apply to that situation? As you seek God through His Word, record any promises He gives you. Later, as you look back, they will be a reminder to you of God’s great faithfulness, power, and love.

– Jesus: Our Restorer of All That Is Broken (Part 3)

OVERCOMING OPPOSITION

(Nehemiah 4)

Jesus, our restorer, wants us to thrive in His PRESENCE, knowing He is with us always. Earlier we saw that God will restore the broken areas and the ruins in our lives, if we follow Him. To follow Him, we must take the first steps: (1) Read God’s Word, (2) Obey God’s Word, and (3) Pray and worship the Lord.

However, you can rest assured that if you read and obey God’s word, and even if you pray and worship the whole day through, opposition will come. Nehemiah and the exiles experienced this. We will too. The exiles thrived despite the opposition; it actually made them stronger and demonstrated God’s power to their enemies.

Mental Opposition: Ridicule
As the exiles made progress in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, their work was ridiculed. When a regional governor heard the exiles were rebuilding the wall, “he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?’ Now [another regional governor] was near him and he said, ‘Even what they are building – if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down’” (Nehemiah 4:1-3).

Response: Prayer and Persevering through Discouragement
What people say can hurt. Being despised was discouraging and the ridicule demoralized the wall builders. However, they turned to God in prayer and overcame their discouragement. (See Nehemiah 4:4). And then, they continued to build the wall because the people had a mind to work.

When discouraged, we have a choice. We have to decide whose words will have the power to affect us. The exiles made a conscious choice to seek God in prayer and to continue with their work. Prayer helped them focus on the situation from God’s perspective, which changed their thinking.

Escalating Opposition: Physical Aggression
As we respond in faith despite discouragement, opposition often intensifies. It did for the Israelite exiles. When their enemies heard that the work on the wall continued, they conspired to physically fight against Jerusalem and put a stop to the work. As this became known in Jerusalem, fear intensified.

Response: Facing Fear with Faith and Wise Preparation
Fear is contagious and it paralyzes. Nehemiah addressed the fear he observed. He told the exiles, “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses” (v. 14). The exiles responded in faith, prepared to fight, and continued rebuilding. The wall was completed. The enemy saw that the Lord frustrated their plans and eventually they lost their confidence and recognized the work had been completed with the help of God.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

The book of Nehemiah contains detailed descriptions of the type of people that surrounded the prophet. This is a perfect snapshot of the culture in which you and I live.

– Jesus: Our Restorer of All That Is Broken (Part 2)

HOW TO THRIVE

(Nehemiah 8)

Are you thriving today – living the abundant life Jesus wants for you? If not, it is definitely possible!

Our only hope for resuscitation, restoration, and revival is the “One Who Restores all the Broken Things” – JESUS! He will heal and rebuild the broken areas within us, He can bring beauty out of ashes, and “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ashheap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory” (1 Samuel 2:8). God’s desire is for us is to thrive and live life abundantly.

How do we, as believers, get to that point of thriving and living an abundant life? In Nehemiah 8:1-3, we see the first step as well as the progression. In this passage, all the exiles gathered together in the open square and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra brought the Law before the assembly and then he read from it from morning until midday and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. They sought out God’s Word and they were attentive to it.

Jesus, our restorer of all that is broken, wants us to thrive through His Holy Word. Fortunately, we are not limited to someone reading to us from one of few remaining copies of Scripture. We have easy access to the Bible. Our part is seeking out and paying attention to His Word, the Bible. What happens when we do this?

… Repentance
… Restoration
…Reconciliation

Look at Nehemiah 8:6. “Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen!’ while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” They received instruction from God’s Word and responded in worship. Notice what happened while reading God’s Word. (1) There was a longing of hearts … hunger, (2)there was the lifting of hands … holiness, and (3)there was the lowering of heads … humility. This is the progression that leads to restoration and thriving.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

We cannot begin to thrive without seeking God through His Word. As the exiles heard God’s Word, their minds were renewed and transformation began. God’s word “is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:2). It clarifies our thinking separating what is of God and what is of the flesh.

The Bible says God’s Word is also like a mirror reflecting to our mind what we are really like. Additionally, it is like a hammer pounding at the areas within us that are hardened by sin and breaking down areas of resistance to God. God speaks to us through Scripture showing us what is keeping us from thriving and possibly even holding us in captivity.

The Bible mentions several other word pictures describing the impact of God’s Word. Look up the following and reflect on how they illustrate the impact of God’s Word on your life.

– Jesus: Our Restorer of All That Is Broken (Part 1)

BROKEN AND RUINED

(Nehemiah)

Our only hope for resuscitation, restoration, and revival is the “One Who Restores All Broken Things” – JESUS! As we see in Nehemiah, He was also the only hope for the Jewish exiles in Persia.

God strategically placed Nehemiah, Ezra, and Esther at a critical juncture in Jewish history. The book of Nehemiah was written about 440 BC during the reign of the Persian king, Artaxerxes. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king, but he also had major governing responsibilities. As a cupbearer, Nehemiah was a high ranking officer in the Persian empire, whose duty it was to serve the wine at the king’s table. A cupbearer had to be a person regarded as thoroughly trustworthy due to potential treachery, poisoning, and other plots against the king. The cupbearer’s confidential relations with the king often endeared him to his sovereign and gave him a position of great influence.

The Situation: Ruins, Destruction, Captivity
In Nehemiah, we see how God used wicked foreign powers like the Assyrians and the Babylonians to bring judgement on Israel. We know how this story begins. Beloved Jerusalem, the Holy City, was a ROCKPILE, completely ruined – the temple, the wall, the gates … destroyed.

And, even worse, God’s people were exiled across the known world – all because of their refusal to completely obey God. Fortunately, that is not the end of the story.

The Beginning of Restoration
The change began when Nehemiah heard news of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was told, “’The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.’ So, it was, when [Nehemiah] heard these words, that [he] sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; [he] was fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:3-4).

At the Impossible Place the Lord Makes a Way Through
The king noticed sadness in Nehemiah’s countenance and asked him about it. That led to an opportunity for Nehemiah to request a leave of absence to go and rebuild Jerusalem. The king granted his request and sent captains of the army and horsemen with him.

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

We have all felt broken in some regard or felt like a situation in our life was in ruins – or perhaps our whole, entire life seemed to be in ruins. There is hope in Jesus, the rebuilder of all broken things. Just as Jerusalem, broken, in ruins, with the Hebrew people were scattered around the known world in captivity because of the sins of previous generations, was rebuilt by God, our lives also can be rebuilt by God. We too can be release from captivity and bondage.

Jesus is the restorer of all that is broken. Just as He miraculously made a way for Nehemiah to go to rebuild Jerusalem and enabled him to succeed at the task, He will do so for us. However, like Nehemiah, our heart must be right. What do we need to do? Let’s look at Nehemiah’s example. Read Nehemiah’s prayer:

“I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You.

Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘IF you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; butIF you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens,yetI will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’

Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man” (Nehemiah 1: -11).

What characteristics of God did Nehemiah mention?

What sin(s) did Nehemiah confess?

What promise did he quote?

What did Nehemiah request?

How can you apply this to any broken area or ruins in your life?

]]>http://alive-to-thrive.org/2017/03/broken-and-ruined/feed/0THE HAND OF GOD IS UPON THOSE WHO SEEK HIMhttp://alive-to-thrive.org/2017/03/the-hand-of-god-is-upon-who-seek-him/
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 17:30:43 +0000http://alive-to-thrive.org/?p=127

– Jesus: Our Faithful High Priest and Scribe (Part 3)

THE HAND OF GOD IS UPON THOSE WHO SEEK HIM

(Ezra 8)

Earlier we learned that Ezra led the people to join him down at the river to fast and pray in preparation for the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. The Israelite exiles would be understandably very concerned or even fearful of what would happen to them. Their caravan would be hard for anyone to miss as they journeyed over the course of four months.

They probably were wondering such things as:

Will the Chaldeans and Babylonians find us and capture us again?
What if we are robbed and attacked along our long journey?
Will the bad guys find us, our little ones, and our silver and gold?

Why were they traveling without protection?
Ezra wrote, “I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, ‘The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.’ So, we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.” Ezra was concerned for the reputation of God. He did not want to do anything to detract from the character of God in the eyes of their captors.

A commentator wrote about this stage in the Israelites history:

“When you consider the dangers of the journey, their faith was great, and it was rewarded by divine protection. This had to have been one of the most astonishing events in history.

As they traveled they carried orders from the king. These orders were shown to the governors of the areas where the exiles traveled. As a result, the governors supported the exiles.

The commission from the king to Ezra included orders to carry over 25 tons of silver and gold from the Babylonians to the temple of Jerusalem. Ezra gave twelve priests and twelve Levites the responsibility and accountability for carrying the treasure. Ezra carefully distributed all the offerings for the temple. This ensured that everything would arrive intact, especially since the offerings would be weighed in Jerusalem to confirm the safe passage of the offerings.”

Ezra planned wisely, made careful preparations, and effectively organized the exiles for the journey. Yet in spite of their preparation, they all knew that apart from God they faced serious danger and the probability of arriving unscathed was very low. They humbled themselves before God to seek from Him the right way for them and their little ones and all their possessions (Ezra 8:21).

At times like this, we too must look to LOOKTOJESUS OUR FAITHFUL PRIEST AND SCRIBE.

Desperate times always call for desperate prayer. In Psalm 27:8, David prayed, “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” Isaiah prayed, “With my soul, I have desired You in the night. Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). Daniel prayed in desperation, “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3).

“When Ezra and the exiles prayed to God, their focus changed from the immediate to the eternal. They had a hunger for God. Their focus changed from their earthly journey to their eternal journey. They trusted God.”

INTEGRATING TRUTH INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

We all face times when we know that apart from God we face failure, danger, or worse. At such times we too have the fundamental choice whether to trust God or to rely on our own resources.

Are you facing something that causes you to fear the outcome or your future? Based on the examples of Ezra and the exiles, what should you do? How can you apply this to your situation?